Accessibility Statements: Legal Protection & User Trust

An accessibility statement is one of the most underrated tools in your digital compliance arsenal. While many organizations focus heavily on technical accessibility—alt text, keyboard navigation, color contrast—they overlook the simple act of communicating their accessibility commitment. This oversight carries real consequences, both legal and user-facing.

An accessibility statement demonstrates good faith, builds user trust, and creates a documented record of your accessibility efforts. In this guide, we'll explore why accessibility statements matter, where they belong on your site, and what they must contain to be effective.

What Is an Accessibility Statement?

An accessibility statement is a dedicated page or section where your organization publicly declares its commitment to digital accessibility, describes what you've done to meet accessibility standards, and explains how users can report accessibility barriers.

Think of it as a contract between your organization and your users: "We care about accessibility, here's what we've implemented, and here's how to reach us if something isn't working."

Common Elements

• Accessibility commitment statement
• Standards followed (WCAG, ADA, etc.)
• Features implemented (keyboard nav, screen readers, etc.)
• Known accessibility issues and timelines
• Accessibility contact information
• Feedback or complaint process
• Third-party accessibility testing or audits (if applicable)

Legal Importance: Demonstrating Good Faith

An accessibility statement serves as documented evidence of your good faith accessibility efforts. While this alone doesn't guarantee legal protection, it matters significantly in litigation.

Why Courts Care About Accessibility Statements

In accessibility-related lawsuits, courts examine whether organizations have made reasonable efforts to ensure accessibility. An accessibility statement demonstrates several things to a court:

1. Awareness of Accessibility Standards
By publicly stating you follow WCAG guidelines or ADA requirements, you demonstrate knowledge of applicable standards. This prevents the "we didn't know" defense and shows your organization takes accessibility seriously.

2. Documented Commitment
A statement creates a paper trail. If accessibility is central to your values, that commitment should be public. If it's only internal, judges may question how serious your efforts truly are.

3. Ongoing Remediation Process
An accessibility statement that includes a feedback mechanism and known issues section shows you're actively working to fix problems, not ignoring them. Courts have noted this in recent decisions.

4. Transparency About Limitations
Being upfront about known issues (and timelines to fix them) is better than having those issues discovered by plaintiffs' attorneys later. Transparency reduces the appearance of negligence.

Settlement and Litigation Context

Many accessibility settlement agreements require organizations to maintain public accessibility statements that are regularly updated. A well-maintained statement demonstrates compliance with those agreements and prevents future litigation.

Why Users Need Accessibility Statements

Beyond legal considerations, accessibility statements serve users directly. People with disabilities visit your site and need to know: "Can I use this? If I run into problems, what's my recourse?"

Building User Confidence

A person using a screen reader might wonder: "Did this organization deliberately make their site accessible, or is it just coincidence?" An accessibility statement answers that question. It signals that accessibility wasn't an afterthought.

Providing Accessibility Information

Different users need different accessibility features. An accessibility statement tells users what's available: keyboard shortcuts, screen reader compatibility, captions, transcripts, adjustable fonts, and high-contrast modes. Users can then determine if your site meets their specific needs.

Creating a Feedback Channel

Even the most carefully built websites have accessibility barriers. An accessibility statement provides users with a clear way to report problems. This email address or contact form becomes a lifeline for users who hit a barrier.

Demonstrating Ongoing Commitment

A regularly updated accessibility statement shows users that accessibility isn't a "set it and forget it" initiative. It's an ongoing conversation. Users are more likely to report issues if they trust the organization is listening and acting on feedback.

Where Your Accessibility Statement Should Live

Placement matters. An accessibility statement buried three clicks deep from your homepage won't serve users or demonstrate good faith to a court. Here's where it belongs:

Primary Location: Footer

Your accessibility statement should always be linked in the footer. This is the industry standard. Users expect to find accessibility, privacy, and legal information in the footer. Make it easy: "Accessibility Statement" in the footer link area, clearly visible and easy to find.

Secondary Locations (Recommended)

• About Us or Company Information Page: Link to your accessibility statement from your about page or contact page. These are natural places where users look for organizational values and commitments.
• Accessibility Resources: If you maintain a blog or resource center on accessibility, link to your statement there.
• Contact/Support Page: Include a prominent link when users are looking for help or want to report issues.
• Legal/Compliance Hub: Group with privacy policy, terms of service, and other compliance documentation.

Avoid These Placements

• Hidden in a collapsible menu or accordion (hard to find)
• Only accessible through a disclaimer page or modal
• Buried in legal jargon (make it readable and approachable)
• PDF-only format (must be accessible as web content)

What Your Accessibility Statement Must Contain

An effective accessibility statement has clear structure and specific content. Here's what to include:

1. Opening Commitment Statement

Start with a clear, genuine commitment to accessibility. Example:

"[Organization Name] is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards."

2. Standards & Guidelines Followed

Explicitly state which standards you follow:

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA or Level AAA (be specific)
• ADA Title III (if applicable)
• Section 508 (if serving federal clients)
• State-specific accessibility laws

Example: "This website aims to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards."

3. Accessibility Features Implemented

Describe what you've actually done. Be specific:

• Keyboard navigation (Tab, Enter, Escape support)
• Screen reader optimization (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
• High contrast modes and text sizing
• Captions and transcripts for multimedia
• Color contrast compliance (7:1, 4.5:1)
• Semantic HTML structure
• Skip navigation links
• Accessible forms with clear labels and error messages

Don't just list them—explain what each feature does for users.

4. Known Accessibility Issues (Optional but Recommended)

Transparency about limitations builds trust and can actually protect you legally. Include:

• What the issue is
• Which pages are affected
• Planned fix date (if known)
• Workarounds available now (if any)

Example: "Some embedded third-party videos lack captions. We are working with vendors to add captions by Q1 2026. In the meantime, transcripts are available upon request."

5. Contact Information for Accessibility Issues

Make it easy for users to report problems:

• Dedicated email address (e.g., accessibility@company.com)
• Phone number if possible
• Contact form (must be accessible!)
• Response time commitment (e.g., "We respond within 2 business days")
• Escalation path if first contact doesn't resolve the issue

6. Accessibility Testing & Audit Information

If you've had third-party accessibility audits, include:

• Date of most recent audit
• Auditing organization or firm
• WCAG level achieved
• Link to full audit report (if public)

This demonstrates external verification of your commitment.

7. Third-Party Content Disclaimer

If your site includes embedded content (YouTube, social media, third-party widgets), clarify your responsibility:

"Some content hosted by third parties (such as embedded YouTube videos) may not be fully accessible. We are not responsible for the accessibility of third-party content and recommend contacting those providers directly for accessibility support."

8. Accessibility Standards Limitations Disclaimer

Include this legal qualifier:

"Despite our efforts to ensure accessibility, some content or features may be difficult for people with certain disabilities to use. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can work to find a solution."

Accessibility Statement Best Practices

Keep It Updated

An outdated accessibility statement is worse than no statement at all. Update it when:

• Major site redesigns or updates occur
• New accessibility features are added
• Known issues are resolved
• WCAG compliance level changes
• Audits or testing results come back

Include a "Last Updated" date on your statement so users know it's current.

Make It Accessible Itself

Your accessibility statement must be accessible! This means:

• Web content, not a locked PDF
• Proper heading structure
• Descriptive link text
• High contrast text (7:1 minimum)
• Keyboard navigable
• Screen reader friendly

Use Clear, Plain Language

Avoid jargon. Your accessibility statement isn't a legal document—it's communication with users. Replace "conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA" with "we follow accessibility best practices that work well for screen readers and keyboard users."

Be Honest

Don't claim WCAG Level AAA compliance if you haven't tested thoroughly. Courts and users value honesty. It's better to say "We aim for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance" than to overstate your efforts.

Provide Multiple Contact Methods

Not every user can fill out a web form or send an email. Offer:

• Email address
• Phone number
• Accessible contact form
• Mailing address (if applicable)

Actually Respond to Reports

The accessibility statement only works if you act on it. When someone reports an accessibility barrier:

• Acknowledge receipt immediately
• Explain your understanding of the problem
• Provide a timeline for fixing it
• Follow up when it's resolved

Sample Accessibility Statement Template

Use this as a starting point for your organization: